The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, June 09, 1976, Image 15

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    L J. Foyt speeds
to Texas 500 win
THE BATTALION Paqe 5B
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1976
By PAUL McGRATH
Battalion Sports Editor
A.}. Foyt breathed a sigh of relief
he plopped into a chair to face the
edia. A damp towel encircled his
>ck while he relaxed in the air
mditioned comfort of the Texas
'odd Speedway press box. His
feat-streaked hair explored cauti-
sly from underneath a baseball
ip while his dark, grease-stained
ice showed the strains of four
iurs of high-speed driving. “I am
:ry happy,” he said. “I finally
oved I could win a 500 mile race
the state of Texas.”
The Houstonian claimed his first
icing win ever in the Lone Star
(ate as he beat by more than a lap
arry “Butch” Hartman in the fifth
inning of the Texas 500. Foyt held
iepole position with the best qual-
ying time of 169.531 miles per
our and 250 laps later received the
leckered flag. The three-time Indy
inner averaged 124.069 miles per
our in his red 1976 Chevy in re
ading the win.
Foyt was paraded to the winner’s
Ircle by fans, photographer’s and a
ibilant pit crew. He grinned
idely as he received the trophy, a
issfrom the Speedway queen and a
n of cold beer. To the victor the
oils they say.
Foyt, who is the all-time United
itates Auto Club championship
oints leader, led for 157 laps of the
ft-delayed race. Eleven caution
for a total of 52 laps allowed all
Irivers to make their way to the pits
fen as neceassary without causing
Isadvantage. Foyt’s pit crew had to
ie one key to his success. Five
he and the runner-up
lartman came into the pits to
other and only once did the Zanes-
ille, Ohio native get underway
head of Foyt.
A.J. went in front to stay on the
!03rd lap and increased the margin
letween Hartman and himself
rhen Hartman was forced to pit his
974 Dodge on the 297th lap due to
lire problems. Hartman dueled
lamo Stott, 1975 US AC champion,
there afterwards and managed to
nish half a lap in front of him.
The crowd of over 31,200, the
argest yet to attend Texas World
ipeedway, was given a shock when
iay Darnell’s 1974 Dodge went ab-
aze in front of the grandstands on
Arlene Hiss
the main straightaway. Pieces of his
car scattered across the track, but
Darnell was able to halt his car on
the turn one infield and suffered no
injury.
Later, Jeff Bloom, who had spun
out twice previously, collided his
1976 Camaro into the turn three
wall and careened into the infield,
hitting the infield barrier. Bloom
was later examined at a hospital and
was reported only shaken up.
Of the 36 drivers who started the
race, only 16 were running at the
conclusion.
Foyt received quite a challenge
from Ferrell Harris, an unknown
from Pikeville, Ky., in the middle
part of the race. Harris was the sec
ond fastest qualifier at 168.264 miles
per hour but was hampered by a
faulty water pump during the race
and was forced to retire.
“Harris had a fast car,” A.J. said.
“If he ever got away from me,
school was out.”
He added that he had to run bet
ter in the corners than the other
drivers because many had faster
cars in the straightaways.
Foyt had his share of problems
too, as the rear end pump cooler of
the brand-new Gilmore began
squirting oil. “I didn’t think we
would get there (to the end),” he
said. While in the pits, Foyt joked
that his mechanics were still build
ing the car and removing some of
the bugs.
IVe’d like
to take
you for
a ride
Mey, Mr. suave and sophisticated . .
try this on lor size. It's the Raleigh
Sports. Think bikes are for kids?
Think again! This one's spe
cially made for the guy who's a
mover. Three speeds, satety-
qulck brakes, genuine leather
saddle, touring bag . . . every
thing you need to travel in
style. See your Raleigh
dealer, he's got a set of
wheels waiting lor you.
Come on along!
The Texas 500 was an historic oc
casion for women drivers as it was
the first time two women had ever
finished a race. Arlene Hiss and
Martha Wideman, both driving
1974 Dodges, placed ninth and 21st
respectively. Hiss’ finish was the
highest yet by a woman driver.
Both women suffered from the in
tense heat as did all of the drivers.
The combination of sun, tire friction
and hot metal was almost overpow
ering. “I’m happy I finished,” the
exhausted Wideman said. “I just
wish I could have placed higher.”
Hiss said, “I’m a lot happier about
this race than the other one (the
Phoenix 150 in March where she
place 15th). I didn’t place in the top
group like A.J. and Butch, but I was
passing some cars out there.”
When asked about women driv
ers, Foyt said, “Women rule the
world anyway, so why can’t they
race?”
Hartman said, “They did a fine
job. We had a little trouble throw
ing kisses to each other in the cor
ners’ though.”
Both Foyt and Hartman were
curious as to why the feminine duo
did not kiss the queen following the
race.
Foyt also commented that he
“was glad to finish a 500 mile race to
see who could finish, ” in obvious re
ference to the rain-halted Indy 500
of a week before where he placed
second to fellow Texan Johnny
Rutherford.
Rutherford did not compete in
the Texas 500 because of commit
ments in the East, but was present
for a short time at the race. “I didn’t
have a good car,” Rutherford said,
“and it was kind of hard on such
short notice. The two-time Indy
winner flashed his 1974 Indy
championship ring and said, “I
would like to be running, but it’s a
helluva lot cooler up here (in the
press box).”
He said he was glad to see the
speedway open again because “this
is too nice a facility to sit dormant.”
He congratulated Speedway Presi
dent Dick Conole for his efforts in
rekindling racing enthusiasism in
Texas.
Conole said, “We couldn’t have
asked for a greater race. We are
very pleased. We knew from our
advance sales we would have a good
crowd, but we expected nothing
like this.”
Foyt squelched rumors about a
, possible retirement when he told
newsmen, “I still have some races to
win and some points to make. We
won’t give up until we get too old to
buckle the seat belt. ”
In winning the Texas 500, Foyt
received a purse of $11,000 in addi
tion to the trophy, which he says
may “go a ledge or two higher than
the others” he has received during
his long and illustrious career.
The next race at Texas World
Speedway will be August 1 with the
running of the Texas Twin 150’s
featuring Indy cars. Tickets will be
available at the Speedway business
office.
BUSINESS
Inquire About Our Term Starting
June 29
Phone 822-6423 or 822-2368
The US AC safety car (at far left) led the field a great
deal of the time during the Texas 500 as 11 caution flags
plagued the fifth running of the event. Most drivers
used the flagged time for pit stops. pholos by Steve Goble
After the race, winner A. J. Foyt (center, holding
trophy) is mobbed by fans and photographers. The
That Place
PROGRESSIVE
PRECISION
HAIRCUTTING
707 TEXAS
846-6933
Houston driver won his first race ever in the state of
Texas, as well as $11,000 in prize money.
Allen Academy is now
accepting applications
for summer and fall terms.
Summer term begins June 21.
If you are looking for a private school for your son or
daughter to improve their academic achievement,
(grade 6-12) write or call:
Director of Admissions
The Allen Academy
Box 953/Bryan, Tx. 77801
(713) 779-0066
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Take East University to 29th St. (Tarrow Street)
Top of the Tower
Texas A&M University
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Monday - Friday
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Available Evenings
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Department of Food Service
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